Hornets capture district title

Saturday

Mar 9, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Ed Patinoed.patino@hillsdale.netADDISON — Add another championship to the Hillsdale High School boys basketball team's trophy case.Getting contributions throughout their starting lineup and withstanding a late flurry, the Hornets captured the Class C district title Friday with a thrilling 45-41 victory over the Adrian Madison Trojans before a boisterous crown at Addison High School.Hillsdale (20-2) advanced to next week's regional tournament at Hudson. The Hornets will face Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in Monday's semifinal game at 6 p.m.The expected district final showdown between the Hornets and Madison (18-4) lived up to its billing. Hillsdale used a run in the second quarter to build an eight-point lead, and a small second half run gave the Hornets a 12-point lead. The Trojans responded both times, twice pulling to within three, but Hillsdale overcame erratic free-throw shooting with key defensive stands to clinch the district title."These were two 18-plus win teams who get after it at the half court, and this was everything we expected it to be," Hillsdale coach Brad Felix said. "We haven't been in many close games this year, and I'm proud of the way the guys responded. It's hard to win championships, but it never gets old."The Hornets appeared to take control of the game midway through the third quarter. Consecutive 3-pointers by Andrew Wilcox and Martin Petersen put Hillsdale up 32-22 before Madison's Justin Webster answered with a jumper. Early in the fourth quarter, Brandon Bisher hit a jumper, then scored on an alley-oop, giving the Hornets a 36-24 lead.The Trojans didn't back down and answered with an 11-2 run. A missile by Collin Slates and free-throws by Webster cut the lead to five, then Webster scored inside and hit two more free throws midway through the quarter, making it 38-35."We couldn't sustain runs and it seemed like we were rushing things and our minds were racing all night," Felix said. "Madison is a great defensive team that's long and big, and they made it difficult for us."Patrick Drews and Bisher hit consecutive baskets in the paint, giving Hillsdale a seven-point lead, but missed free throws prevented it from putting away the Trojans. Zach Denig scored a putback with 15 seconds left before Jimmy Chase went 1-of-2 at the free throw line. Zach Mellon hit a basket with three seconds left, making it 45-41, but the Hornets safely inbounded the ball as the horn sounded."This is something we've prepared for since our first game," Wilcox said. "Everyone on our team feeds off of each other and makes plays. We have three or four guys all capable of having good nights, which makes us hard to stop."Zach VanOrman scored six points in the first quarter, lifting Hillsdale into a 10-5 lead. The Hornets maintained their five-point lead before extending it late in the second quarter. Chase buried a 3-pointer, and Wilcox immediately followed with a layup off a steal, making it 20-12.Madison fought back to within 22-17 by halftime.Chase finished with 13 points to lead the Hornets. VanOrman added nine points, while Bisher scored eight points. Wilcox had six points, 12 rebounds and five assists, and Drews had six points and three steals."We put Wilcox on Webster and he played with a lot of heart," Felix said. "I told Brandon that we needed him to make plays at the start of the fourth and he responded."Webster had 20 points and six rebounds to lead Madison. Mellon and Slates both scored eight points, while Prince Benson grabbed 13 rebounds.